Begonia plant name ‘KRBEVCH01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRBEVCH01’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; semi-double type flowers that are red in color and held above and beyond the foliar plane; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRBEVCH01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred to as an Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRBEVCH01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Begonia plants with excellent postproduction longevity and attractive flower color.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Begonia x tuberhybrida hybrid identified as code number KV11K1912-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in December, 2013. Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KRBEVCH01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRBEVCH01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Semi-double type flowers that are red in color and held above         and beyond the foliar plane.     -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have light red purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the Begonia have semi-double type flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have single type flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRSSUCO01’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,593. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘KRSSUCO01’ in flower color as plants of ‘KRSSUCO01’ have coral red-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Begonia have smaller flowers than plants of ‘KRSSUCO01’.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRELECE01’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,187. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘KRELECE01’ in flower type as plants of ‘KRELECE01’ have fully double type flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KRBEVCH01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of the upper (right) and lower (left) surfaces of typical leaves and flowers of ‘KRBEVCH01’, and in the center of the photograph is a close-up view of typical flower buds.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRBEVCH01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia x             tuberhybrida hybrid identified as code number KV11K1912-001,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to orange             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounded plant habit; overall plant shape, broadly obovate to             nearly globular.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; suitable for 12-cm and larger containers; under             optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about             nine weeks are required to produce proportional plants in             12-cm containers.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching with about five             primary branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29.1             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 36.4 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 14.9 cm. Diameter: About 8             mm to 9 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Aspect: About 25° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Initially, sparsely to moderately pubescent and             hemming smooth and glabrous with development; glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 144B. Color, developed: Close to 146A.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             13.3 cm. Width: About 10.6 cm. Shape: Ovate, asymmetrical.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate with cordate tendencies. Margin:             Serrate to dentate; undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent along venation; moderately glossy. Venation             pattern: Laciniate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to N200A tinged with close to 147A; venation, close to             143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 176B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between 147A and             N189A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147C strongly tinged with close to 183C;             venation, close to 146A. Petioles: Length: About 5.3 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Strength: Low, flexible.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             152A; distally on developed leaves, close to 180A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 152B. Stipules: Length: About             1.3 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire to             irregularly ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146D; apex, tinged with close             to 178C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and flowering habit.—Semi-double type             rotate flowers with four tepals and numerous tepaloids;             flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes; freely             flowering habit with typically about nine flowers per cyme             and about 270 flowers and flower buds developing per plant;             many cymes in flower simultaneously; flowers positioned             above and beyond the foliar plane and face upright to             outwardly; only male flower development has been observed to             date.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about five             weeks after planting; plants will flower year round             regardless of nyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and             more abundantly from spring into the autumn in The             Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; excellent             postproduction longevity, plants maintain good substance for             about five to six weeks in an interior environment.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 16.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.3 cm.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Rotate, semi-double type. Diameter: About             6.6 cm. Depth (height): About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 0.6 cm to             2.1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to nearly circular, flattened.             Texture and luster: Glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 47B; towards the base, close to 48D.         -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement per flower: Usually about             four per flower arranged in two whorls. Length, lower             tepals: About 3.4 cm. Width, lower tepals: About 3.8 cm.             Length, upper tepals: About 2.9 cm. Width, upper tepals:             About 3 cm. Shape, all tepals: Nearly orbicular to reniform.             Apex, all tepals: Rounded. Base, all tepals: Reniform.             Margin, all tepals: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, upper surface, lower tepals: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface, lower tepals: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces, upper tepals: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             velvety; matte. Color, lower tepals: When opening, upper             surface: Close to between 46C and 53C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 46D; fading towards the base to close to             48C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 50A and             53D; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 50A; fading towards the margins to close to 50B;             venation, close to 47A; color does not change with             development. Color, upper tepals: When opening, upper             surface: Slightly more pink than close to between 46C and             53C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 46D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to between 50A and 53C;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             between 50A and 53C; fading towards the base to close to             50C; venation, close to 47A; color does not change with             development.         -   Tepaloids.—Quantity and arrangement per flower: Typically             about 20 per flower clustered at the center of the flower.             Length: About 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm to 9 mm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse to shallowly cleft. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;             matte. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to between 53C and N57A; towards the base,             occasionally tinged with close to 13A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 53C to 53D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to between 53C and N57A; inner tepaloids, close to             14B; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to between 53C and 53D; inner tepaloids, close to 13B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to             5.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35° from             lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 152A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 20° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; glossy. Color:             Close to 171C.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About             1.8 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Finely             ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146C; apex tinged with close to 178C;             venation, similar to lamina color.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             three, mostly deformed. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 12B. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther diameter: About 1 mm to 1.75 mm. Anther shape:             Obovate, flattened. Anther color: Close to 13A. Pollen             amount: None observed to date. Pistils: None observed;             female flower development has not been observed on plants of             the new Begonia to date; no seed nor fruit production has             been observed to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia     to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRBEVCH01’ as illustrated and described. 